BRISBANE — Pakistan is geared up to take on Australia in a three-match T20 International series, commencing at the Gabba on Thursday. Following a remarkable One-Day International (ODI) series win in Australia, the Pakistan team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, aims to carry the momentum forward into the shorter format. Pakistan stunned Australia by clinching the ODI series 2-1, overcoming a challenging start in the first match.
While Australia’s squad featured several younger players, making the ODI win appear less significant in some quarters, Pakistan’s performance was a testament to their all-around strength. The team’s effort under Rizwan’s leadership showed they were well-prepared to make a mark in international cricket again.
Rizwan’s Optimism Ahead of T20 Series
Despite the new dynamics of the team and the challenge of playing against a formidable Australia side, Rizwan expressed confidence in his team’s abilities ahead of the T20 series. He emphasized the importance of continuing the good form established in the ODI series, while also focusing on specific improvements.
“We’re focused on the upcoming T20 series now and aim to field the best possible team,” Rizwan said in a pre-series media interaction in Brisbane. He noted that the team had already identified their roles and strategies, and they hoped to carry the confidence gained from their success in the ODI series into the T20 format.
“Beating Australia in the ODI series has given us a lot of confidence, but we understand that international cricket is always challenging. We’ll continue to work hard and aim to improve our game,” Rizwan added.
The wicketkeeper-batter also mentioned that the focus of the team would be not just on the T20 series against Australia, but also on upcoming fixtures against Zimbabwe and South Africa. Rizwan’s leadership was praised for maintaining positive morale among the players, even in the absence of senior figures like Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, and Iftikhar Ahmed.
Pakistan’s Batting and Bowling Line-Up Under Review
When asked about the T20 squad lineup for the first match, Rizwan maintained a level of mystery. The captain revealed that the final team selection had not been disclosed, as there were still ongoing discussions among the management. “We’ve kept the playing XI a secret for now because there are certain decisions I’d like to keep to myself,” he said.
Rizwan acknowledged the significance of his team’s batting and bowling performance during their tour so far, recognizing that conditions have favored the bowlers but also expressing a desire to prove Pakistan’s mettle with the bat in the T20 series.
“Our aim is always to improve and focus on what’s working, while also addressing areas that need improvement. I always consult with the team before making final decisions, keeping the best interest of Pakistan in mind,” Rizwan said.
The absence of key players like Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir was felt in the squad. Rizwan admitted that it would take time to fully fill the void left by these senior players. “Replacing them overnight is not possible. It’s a process, and we’ll get there with time,” Rizwan added.
Australia Faces Criticism for Squad Selection
On the Australian side, wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, who has been filling in as captain for Mitchell Marsh, addressed the criticism surrounding the selection of a second-string squad for the T20 series against Pakistan. Inglis said that the decision to leave out some of Australia’s star players for the T20 matches was a result of scheduling conflicts and was not a sign of underestimating Pakistan.
“There’s always a balance to strike when it comes to managing the workload of players, and those decisions are above my pay grade,” Inglis said, defending the squad selection. He stressed that although the team faced criticism for resting some of their key players, the players called up for the series should not be labeled as second-string.
“I think calling this a ‘second-string squad’ is unfair. We’ve got to manage the schedule and give players time to recover for future series. But we’re not taking Pakistan lightly. They are a formidable side, and we’re fully aware of their capabilities,” Inglis noted.
Inglis also discussed the struggles of Australia’s batting unit in the ODI series, where they faced difficulties against Pakistan. “The batting group did not perform up to our usual standards. We know we didn’t score enough runs in the ODI series, and that’s something we need to rectify in the T20 series,” he said.
Australia Looks to Bounce Back in T20 Format
Despite their struggles in the ODI series, Australia is determined to bounce back in the T20 format. Inglis, who captained the Australian side in the third ODI, believes that the T20 format offers the perfect opportunity for the team to showcase their strengths and fix the issues that plagued them in the previous series.
“The focus now is on the T20s. We need to move past what happened in the ODIs and start fresh. We’ve seen what Pakistan can do, but we’ll keep backing ourselves and bring our best game to the field,” Inglis said.
Squads for the T20 Series
Here are the squads for the upcoming T20 series between Australia and Pakistan:
Australia:
- Sean Abbott
- Xavier Bartlett
- Cooper Connolly
- Tim David
- Nathan Ellis
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Aaron Hardie
- Josh Inglis (captain)
- Spencer Johnson
- Glenn Maxwell
- Matthew Short
- Marcus Stoinis
- Adam Zampa
Pakistan:
- Arafat Minhas
- Babar Azam
- Haris Rauf
- Haseebullah
- Jahandad Khan
- Mohammad Abbas Afridi
- Mohammad Rizwan (captain/wicket-keeper)
- Mohammad Irfan Khan
- Naseem Shah
- Omair Bin Yousuf
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Sufyan Moqim
- Usman Khan
FAQs
1. Who is the captain of Pakistan’s T20 team?
The captain of Pakistan’s T20 team is Mohammad Rizwan. He led Pakistan to a historic ODI series victory against Australia.
2. What is Pakistan’s record against Australia in recent ODI series?
Pakistan won the recent ODI series 2-1 against Australia, marking a significant victory after 22 years.
3. Why is Australia fielding a second-string squad in the T20 series?
Australia’s squad for the T20 series includes several younger players due to the tight international schedule and the need to manage player workloads for future series.
4. What are Pakistan’s chances of winning the T20 series against Australia?
Pakistan’s chances look promising after their recent success in the ODI series. However, the T20 format is different, and they will need to continue their strong performances.
5. What is the importance of the T20 series for Pakistan?
The T20 series provides Pakistan an opportunity to solidify their position in international cricket, build on their recent ODI success, and test their strategies for upcoming matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
